Founders Sophie Ivanova, Louise Osbourne and Mellissa Donello at the 2022 Birmingham Film & TV Market
Fifty-five writers and producers had one-to-one meetings with senior representatives from top film and TV companies including the BBC, ITV, Sky Original Film, Channel 4 and Paramount +, when the Birmingham Film & TV Market was held for the second year running at The Grand Hotel, in Colmore Row, on Friday (Oct 7).
Among the coups for the 2022 event was the chance for the participating teams, whether unrepresented or established, to share their projects with decision makers from the Oscar-winning US production company Imagine Entertainment, which is helmed by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer.
In a recorded session, 20 people were chosen to pitch to Imagine Entertainment representatives in Hollywood in the hopes the massive production company would be interested in having their projects taken further.
The Birmingham Film & TV Market was launched to increase opportunities for under-represented voices outside of London. Those taking part this year were hoping to follow several teams of writers and filmmakers from the 2021 event who have not only created meaningful relationships with leading companies, some have secured finance for their projects.
Among those pitching their ideas this year was writer-actor Esther Stanford, from Stourbridge, who was speaking to production companies about her ideas for a comedy drama. Esther said: “To meet people who commission work in person in Birmingham is great as new writers would not normally have the opportunity. Each person has taken an interest and if they think they can do something with your idea they say so or they recommend somebody else who they think may be interested.
“It is scary to think you are pitching to a commissioner but they have been lovely. It can be isolating to develop a script so it is great to share ideas with people in the industry and meet other creators who are looking for support.”
Writer-director Jason Imlach welcomed the chance to pitch his TV series. He said: “I am not from a background where I knew anyone who worked in TV so coming here has demystified the process. The chance to speak to people from the BBC is amazing especially as the atmosphere has been so comfortable. I would like to work in TV so this event has been about building relationships for the future.”
Caroline Hollick, Head of Drama at Channel 4, said she had wanted to hear “stories which surprise” during the Birmingham Film & TV Market, calling the event “unique”. She said: “It is quite rare for me to take pitches so it has been a fresh experience to meet film makers face to face. You get a strong sense of the writer’s personality and get to hear about a lot of projects.
“Birmingham has so much creative talent. My reach into this part of the world has not been as strong as I would like so this event has been a chance to meet talent from this region. I have found a strong sense of identity. The uniqueness of this city and region really lends itself to powerful storytelling.”
The Film & TV Market is open to anyone with developed feature length film, long form TV or TV series projects. Filmmakers have had their ideas carefully reviewed to progress to the in-person pitch stage. The organisers believe the event will help build film industry investment in the Midlands and grow support for local talent to develop content for top producers.
The other film and TV companies to attend included Lionsgate, Studio Canal, Sky Studios, Banijay, Kudos, Merman, House Productions, Independent Entertainment, Goldfinch’s First Flights, Fullwell 73 and Eccho Rights.
The organisers are working to a five-year plan to raise the profile of the Midlands within the global film and TV industries. The Birmingham Film & TV Market was set up by Sophie Ivanova, Mellissa Donello and Louise Osbourne.
Sophie Ivanova said: “To have the LA company Imagine Entertainment taking part in the market has been amazing. They were really looking forward to hearing pitches from the UK and the Midlands, and we hope it will be the beginning of a meaningful relationship with Imagine Entertainment and other LA-based production companies. We want an international element to our market and have already begun talks with Screen Ireland and Series Mania in France about attending the market. They could not attend this year but hope to be present in 2023, so watch this space.”
Louise Osbourne said: “A lot of new film makers and writers find they cannot make progress in the industry without a literary agent. The Film & TV Market is an opportunity for people with projects who are not represented to speak directly to commissioners and begin conversations with those interested in moving their projects forward.
“We have been hearing that London and Manchester are saturated as far as productions go, so the decision makers are looking for new regional stories and naturally the Midlands is the best choice. Being only an hour and half from London with incredible locations and rich and diverse voices all the top commissioners and production companies are excited to attend our market and find their next big show, with some even relocating their offices to Birmingham.”
Mellissa Donello added: “The feedback has been amazing this year from all participants, including delegates, executives and sponsors. A lot of the participating teams felt that they have had the best chance possible to share their ideas with commissioners. Even if they have not been taken forward they have received constructive feedback. We hope that with deals coming out of this event, people will be able to ‘make it’ in film and TV in Birmingham.”
The Birmingham Film & TV Market and Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight have teamed up for a second year in a row to find the best screenwriters in the Midlands for the 2022 Steven Knight: Make It In Birmingham Award, which was won by Luci Olivia, who received a full pass to the market day and will get a meeting with Steven Knight to develop and support her writing future.
The sponsors for this year’s event included Alliotts Accountants, Performance Media Insurance, Reviewed and Cleared, BOA, Creative UK, the Grand Hotel, Bootcamp Media, Hortons Estate, Start Electric, Script Angel and Final Draft.
Trainspotting writer Irvine Welsh and actor Paul Ready, star of TV comedy Motherland, were among those to back this year’s Film & TV Market as a rare opportunity for unknown talent to share their ideas with key decision makers in person.
